THE SOUL OF PRAYER - Part 3
Notes
Transcript
WHY THIS SERIES
THE PROPOSITION THAT I HAVE SOUGHT TO GUIDED OUR HEARTS:
PRAYER IS NOT THE POSTURE OF THE PHYSICAL BUT THE POSTURE OF THE SOUL
PRAYER IS NOT THE POSTURE OF THE PHYSICAL BUT THE POSTURE OF THE SOUL
WHERE WE’VE BEEN IN THIS SERIES:
An Unquenchable Desire for Christ
A Holy Agitation
TODAY’S SERMON COMES FROM JOHN 15 -
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
SERMON FOR TODAY
THE SOUL OF PRAYER IS
A FRUITFUL DESIRE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CHRISTOLOGICAL MOVEMENT
A FRUITFUL DESIRE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CHRISTOLOGICAL MOVEMENT
ILLUSTRATION
ASK PEOPLE WHAT LIFE IS ABOUT?
1. EDUCATION
2. WORK
3. FAMILY
4. ETC…
I AM CONVINCED THAT, UNTIL, WITHIN OUR HEART, A CHIEF ANSWER IS THE
1. THE GLORY OF GID
2. CHRIST
3. THE MISSION OF GOD, ETC…
THE REAL PURPOSE OF THE LORD’S MISSION IS HIMSELF
WE MUST GET TO THE PLACE WHERE OUR WORK IS HIS WORK AND GLORY. WHERE WE CAN SAY WITH CHRIST
I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.
LIKE PAUL:
But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
UNTIL SOMETHING OF THE GLORY OF GOD OR THE MISSION OF GOD BECOMES THE REASON FOR OUR LIVES WE WILL ALWAYS BE PRAYING BELOW WHAT THE LORD EXPECTS AND WHAT HE HONORS
HERE IS THE THOUGHT THAT I WANT US TO PONDER AS WE THINK THROUGH THIS TEXT
HERE IS THE THOUGHT THAT I WANT US TO PONDER AS WE THINK THROUGH THIS TEXT
PRAYER THAT WORKS COMES FROM THE HEART THAT DESIRES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MISSION OF GOD: THE GLOBAL FAME OF JESUS AND THE SALVATION OF SINFUL MEN AND WOMEN.
PRAYER THAT WORKS COMES FROM THE HEART THAT DESIRES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MISSION OF GOD: THE GLOBAL FAME OF JESUS AND THE SALVATION OF SINFUL MEN AND WOMEN.
b. TOO OFETN WE ARE LED TO BELIEVE THAT THE MISSION OF GOD IN THIS WORLD IS US
i. OUT COMFORT
ii. OUR DESIRES
iii. OUR GOOD
iv. OUR JOY
BEARING FRUIT MEANS
BEARING FRUIT MEANS
PRAYER IS BOTH THE FRUIT OF ABIDING AND THE ROOT OF ABIDING
PRAYER IS BOTH THE FRUIT OF ABIDING AND THE ROOT OF ABIDING
1. THE LIFE OF JESUS MADE VISIBLE
1. THE LIFE OF JESUS MADE VISIBLE
THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER: THAT GOD WILL GRANT YOUR REQUEST SO THAT THE LIFE OF JESUS IS MADE VISIBLE AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD CLEAR THROUGH YOUR LIFE
THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER: THAT GOD WILL GRANT YOUR REQUEST SO THAT THE LIFE OF JESUS IS MADE VISIBLE AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD CLEAR THROUGH YOUR LIFE
THE IDEA OF BEARING FRUIT IS MISSIONAL
DOES YOUR PRAYER REFLECT THAT?
I. PRAYER IS A CHRISTOLOGICAL OBSESSION: A HEART THAT IS CONTENT TO REST IN CHRIST
I. PRAYER IS A CHRISTOLOGICAL OBSESSION: A HEART THAT IS CONTENT TO REST IN CHRIST
JESUS MENTIONS ABIDE… THREE TIMES:
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
PRAYER ABIDES US IN THE ONE WHO IS THE SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL POWER
PRAYER ABIDES US IN THE ONE WHO IS THE SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL POWER
TO REST IN JESUS MEANS:
1. TO TRUST IN CHRIST
TO REST IN JESUS MEANS:
2. TO OPEN YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST
TO REST IN JESUS MEANS:
3. TO REMAIN IN UNION WITH CHRIST
JESUS CALLS US TO WHAT HE HAS DONE – JOHN 5:29
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.
II. PRAYER IS THE FRUIT OF A CHRISTOLOGICAL OBEDIENCE : A HEART THAT IS CONVICTED TO BE LIKE CHRIST
II. PRAYER IS THE FRUIT OF A CHRISTOLOGICAL OBEDIENCE : A HEART THAT IS CONVICTED TO BE LIKE CHRIST
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
JESUS IS NOW TEACHING US TO ABIDE IN MY WORD
JESUS IS NOW TEACHING US TO ABIDE IN MY WORD
III. PRAYER IS THE FRUIT OF A CHRISTOLOGICAL UNITY: A HEART THAT IS CONSUMED WITH THE BODY
III. PRAYER IS THE FRUIT OF A CHRISTOLOGICAL UNITY: A HEART THAT IS CONSUMED WITH THE BODY
TO BE CONNECTED TO THE VINE IS TO BE CONNECTED TO THE OTHERR BRANCHES CONNECTED TO THE VINE
Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
WE SEE THIS ALSO IN A CONTRAST JESUS MAKES:
If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
TO NOT ABIDE - WITHER
- ANYONE WHO IS NOT DOING WHAT ABIDING MEANS
o THROWN AWAY – LIKE A BRANCH
AND WITHERS
WITHERING IS NOT OVERNIGHT – IT IS A PROCESS
THE HEBREW WRITER CALLS IT DRIFTING
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
o GATHERED
o BURNED
PRAYER IN ISOLATION IS FRUITLESS
PRAYER IN ISOLATION IS FRUITLESS
THE JUDAS BRANCH
1. NO BRANCH BEARS FRUIT IN ISOLATION
2. BRANCHES THAT ISOLATE WILL WITHER
IV. PRAYER IS THE FRUIT OF A CHRISTOLOGICAL STEWARDSHIP: A HEART THAT IS COMPELLED TO GO FOR CHRIST
IV. PRAYER IS THE FRUIT OF A CHRISTOLOGICAL STEWARDSHIP: A HEART THAT IS COMPELLED TO GO FOR CHRIST
JESUS IS CALLING US TO ABIDE IN HIS LOVE
JESUS IS CALLING US TO ABIDE IN HIS LOVE
LOVING ONEANOTHER/OTHERS (V9-12)
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
LOVE IS DYING TO SELF FOR THE GOOD OF OTHERS SO PRAYER IS THE ACT AND THE DESIRE OF DYING IN SOME WAY SO THAT CHRIST MIGHT BE GLORIFIED IN MY LIFE LAID DOWN IN LOVE
LOVE IS DYING TO SELF FOR THE GOOD OF OTHERS SO PRAYER IS THE ACT AND THE DESIRE OF DYING IN SOME WAY SO THAT CHRIST MIGHT BE GLORIFIED IN MY LIFE LAID DOWN IN LOVE